Five-armed Seastar

Uniophora granifera (Lamarck, 1816)

Taxonomy

Scientific Details

See below for information.

Taxonomy

Phylum:

Echinodermata

Class:

Asteroidea

Order:

Forcipulatida

Family:

Asteriidae

Genus:

Uniophora

Species:

granifera

General Description

Arms 5, rounded not narrowly pointed at the ends. Disc and arm surface spines are knob-like, frequently in a zig-zag series along the top of the arm. Colour variable, including red to brown to orange to cream, spines sometimes purple. Centre to arm tip up to 12 cm.

Biology

The colour pattern of this sea star is sometimes similar to the introduced Northern Pacific Sea Star, but the introduced species has pointed arms and pointed spines.